In t-SQL, I have added a new column named "AGE" to table "employees", but I have to write different update statements for insert each age value, since each employee has a different age.

Is there any way to insert different ages values into a single update statement? I cannot make use of default value or where condition, because there is no pattern in age of employees.

In t-SQL, I have added a new column named "AGE" to table "employees", but I have to write different update statements for insert each age value, since each employee has a different age.

Is there any way to insert different ages values into a single update statement? I cannot make use of default value or where condition, because there is no pattern in age of employees.

• sql-server
• t-sql
• sql-update

• 7 "In t-SQL, I have added a new column named "AGE" to table "employees" FYI, people's ages change. Date of birth is a far better solution, as that doesn't change. – Thom A Commented Mar 17 at 9:16
• Does this answer your question? SQL Update from One Table to Another Based on a ID Match – Thom A Commented Mar 17 at 9:17
• 4 If you already have a DOB column then you can add a computed column with a formula to automatically derive the age at run time rather than storing it and needing to maintain it daily – Martin Smith Commented Mar 17 at 9:33
• so how do you determine a person's age ? Do you have a column with the birtday or something else ? How do you know ? – GuidoG Commented Mar 17 at 12:02
• Is it really a requirement that each employee has a different age? Please add DDL and sample data to clarify your question. – HABO Commented Mar 17 at 19:25

1 Answer 1

Keeping a changing value in the database is not a great idea : each day someone may have his age change. The birthdate does not change.

For the technical side of the question :

1. If you want to insert/update in "one" time, you have 2 options :
   Make several insert/update inside a transaction that you can rollback is case of error

2. Construct a table then insert/update the content :

   UPDATE emp
   SET emp.Age = tmp.Age
   FROM dbo.Employee AS emp
   INNER JOIN (VALUES('name1', 25), ('name2', 52), ('name3', 34)) AS tmp(lastname, age)
         ON tmp.lastname = emp.lastname